Snap button

ABSTRACT

A snap button has a female portion formed from a cap and a socket that are connected together with a piece of fabric in between. The cap is formed from a base body having a circumferential flange with interruptions therein so that the flange can be bent outward during assembly. The socket is formed by a disc having a central aperture and a peripheral rim, as well as an annular insert disposed within the socket. The cap is connected to the socket by pressing the socket onto the cap until the flange bends around the annular insert to anchor the cap to the socket with the fabric trapped between. A male portion having a stud is connected to the female portion by snapping the stud into the socket such that the stud extends entirely through the socket and into the cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a snap button for use in connecting twoarticles together. In particular, the invention relates to a snap buttonthat is very low profile and simple to assemble.

2. The Prior Art

Snap buttons are generally formed by four separate pieces: a cap andsocket forming the female part of the snap, and a stud and post formingthe male part of the snap. Fabric is placed between the cap and socket,and also between the stud and post, so when the stud is snapped in tothe socket, the two pieces of fabric are connected together. One problemwith traditional snap buttons is that they can be bulky—connecting fourseparate parts together can add to the weight and size of the snap,making it cumbersome and unattractive. In addition, the majority of thesnap tends to be situated between the two layers of fabric, so theconnection of the fabric is not ideal as water, air and dirt can enter.

In addition, traditional metal snaps can be noisy to engage anddisengage, thus making them undesirable for use in some situations, suchas on hunting gear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a snap button thatis very low profile and does not distract from the articles beingconnected. It is another object of the invention to provide a snapbutton that can be engaged and disengaged quietly.

These and other objects are accomplished by a snap button having afemale portion and a male portion. The female portion is formed from acap and a socket that are connected together with a piece of fabric inbetween. The cap is formed from a base body having a top surface, abottom surface, and a circumferential flange extending from the bottomsurface. The flange has a plurality of interruptions therein so that theflange can be bent outward during assembly. The socket is formed by adisc having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central aperture and aperipheral rim extending from top surface, as well as an annular insertdisposed within the socket. The cap is connected to the socket bypressing the socket onto the cap until the flange bends around theannular insert to anchor the cap to the socket with the fabric trappedbetween. The insert is preferably S-shaped in cross-section, and theflange bends around the curve of the S to connect the cap and socket.The flange preferably has a series of evenly arranged interruptions tocreate prongs. The prongs can have a curved profile. Preferably, theprongs extend from the cap at an angle of between 90 and 100 degrees,which facilitates bending of the prongs by a die machine duringassembly. The base body and flange are preferably formed from metal.

A male portion having a stud is connected to the female portion bysnapping the stud into the socket such that the stud extends entirelythrough the socket and into the cap. This arrangement has severaladvantages. First, because the stud extends all the way to the cap,essentially through the fabric between the cap and socket, the fabricconnected to the male portion and the fabric connected to the femaleportion can be situated very close together, improving function of thearticle or clothing to which the snap is attached. In addition, the capover the socket protects the stud and prevents inadvertent separation ofthe parts even upon impact.

The male portion can be any standard male snap portion having a stud forinsertion into the female portion. In particular, the male portion canbe made of two components: a post formed by a disc having a protrusionextending from the disc, and the stud formed by a disc having an indentcorresponding to the shape of the post. The stud is connected to thepost by inserting the post into the indent. A portion of the stud isnarrower than the post so that post is maintained in the stud byforce-fit. The post and stud are connected around a layer of fabric byplacing the post through a hole in the fabric prior to insertion intothe indent of the stud.

In a preferred embodiment, there are a set of teeth arrangedcircumferentially around an inside of the flange of the cap. The teethare configured to grip the stud when the stud is inserted into thefemale portion. The teeth can have a protrusion extending inwardly nearthe top surface of each tooth, to help grip the stud. The teeth areformed by a plastic insert that is placed in the cap underneath themetal flange. The use of plastic makes the snapping and unsnapping ofthe snap button very quiet and reduces the vibrations created duringuse. The plastic also flexes under pressure and allows the stud to beinserted. In addition, because of the air gaps between the teeth, thereis no popping sound due to escaping air when the snap is engaged anddisengaged. There are preferably between two and five teeth. The flangeand base body of the cap are made of separate pieces of metal to allowfor assembly of the tooth insert between them.

In another embodiment, the flange is formed in one piece with the basebody of the cap. The cap is connected to the socket in the same mannerdescribed above. In this embodiment, the insert with the teeth is absentand the stud is inserted directly into the socket and held there by atraditional ring spring in the socket. In this embodiment, there areplurality of spikes arranged on the bottom side of the base bodycircumferentially around an outside of the flange. The spikes areconfigured for gripping a layer of fabric disposed between the cap andsocket when the cap and socket are connected.

In both embodiments, the stud extends entirely through the socket to thecap, making for a very low-profile snap button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the cap for the snap button accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the cap;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along lines III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the socket for the snap buttonaccording to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the socket;

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view along lines VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the stud for the snap buttonaccording to the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the stud;

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view along lines IX-IX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the post for the snap buttonaccording to the invention;

FIG. 11 show a top view of the post;

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view along lines XII-XII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the snap button assembled on two pieces offabric;

FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view along lines XIV-XIV of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows an alternative embodiment of the cap for the snap buttonaccording to the invention;

FIG. 16 shows a side view of the cap of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a top view of the socket for use with the cap of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 shows a bottom view of the socket of FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 shows a cross-sectional view of the snap button using the capand socket of FIGS. 15-18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 show the cap 10 ofthe snap button according to the invention. Cap 10 has a base body 11with a rim 12, and an annular flange 13 extending up from base body 11.Annular flange 13 has a plurality of interruptions 14 around itscircumference, to form a plurality of evenly distributed prongs 15.Disposed inside base body 11 and underneath flange 13 is an insert 16having a plurality of teeth 17 arranged in a circumferential manner onthe inside of flange 13. Insert 16 is preferably made of plastic, andteeth 17 are preferably arranged with a spacing in between the teeth.

FIGS. 4-6 show the socket 20 according to the invention. Socket 20 isannular in shape, with a central aperture 21, a top rim 22 and a bottomrim 23. The top rim 22 is smaller in circumference than the bottom rim23. An annular insert 24 is disposed between the top and bottom rims.Annular insert 24 has an S-shaped cross section.

FIGS. 7-9 show the stud element 30 according to the invention. Studelement 30 has a disc-shaped base 31 with the stud 32 extending upwardtherefrom. Stud 32 has a circumferential side wall 33 and a top surface34, with an indentation 36 within side wall 33. The base 31 can have aridge 35 extending around it.

FIGS. 10-12 show the post 40 according to the invention. Post 40 iscomprised of a disc shaped base 41 and a post element 42 extendingupward therefrom. Post element 42 can have one or more indentations 43on its side, and an indentation 44 on its top surface.

The cap 10, socket 20, stud element 30 and post 40 can all be assembledaround two layers of fabric to create a snap button to connect the twolayers of fabric, as shown in FIGS. 13-14. Post element 42 of post 40 isinserted through a hole in fabric 50. The edges of fabric 50 bend aroundthe base of post element 42 to allow post 40 to connect to stud 30 viaforce fit.

Cap 10 is connected to socket 20 by forming a hole in a layer of fabric60, inserting flange 13 through the hole, and pressing flange 13 aroundinsert 24 of socket 20 until the prongs of flange 13 bend around insert24 to anchor cap 10 to socket 20. This pressing can be done by a diepress. The evenly distributed prongs help distribute the force from thedie machine during pressing. After this pressing, the teeth 17 extendthrough socket 20 until just past top rim 22.

The female portion of the snap button formed by cap 10 and socket 20 canbe connected to the male portion of the snap button by inserting stud 32into the space 19 formed between teeth 17. Teeth 17 have an inwardlyextending protrusion 18, which presses against stud 32 to keep stud 32connected to cap 10. After assembly, stud 32 extends entirely throughsocket 20, to the inside surface of insert 16 of cap 10, and thusextends not only through fabric layer 50, but through fabric layer 60 aswell. This way, the connection between the male and female components ofthe snap button takes place not between the two layers of fabric as withmost snap buttons, but outside both layers. Due to this feature, thelayers of fabric are connected to each other more closely, which createsa better closure against air and water.

A second embodiment of the female portion of the snap button accordingto the invention is shown in FIGS. 15-19. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the cap70 according to this second embodiment. Here cap 70 is formed from abase body 71 connected to a flange 72 having interruptions 73 to formprongs 74. A plurality of spikes 75 are arranged on base body 71 aroundthe outside of flange 72 and extend substantially perpendicular to basebody 71.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show the socket 80 for use with cap 70. Socket 80 isformed from a base body 81 having a central aperture 82 with a ringspring 86 disposed in the aperture 82. An annular insert 83 is arrangedin base body 81. Insert 83 has an S-shaped cross section. In use, cap 70is assembled to socket 80 by inserting prongs 74 through a hole infabric 60 and pressing prongs 74 into socket 80 until prongs 74 bendaround insert 83, as shown in FIG. 19. At the same time, spikes 75 arepressed through fabric 60 to further secure fabric 60 to cap 70. Spikes75 keep the fabric in place and prevent damage to the central hole inthe fabric, even if the fabric is pulled or dragged during use.

Cap 70 and socket 80 can be used with the same stud 30 and post 40 asshown in FIGS. 7-14. The entire assembly is shown in FIG. 19. Becausethere are no teeth to grip stud 32, a ring spring 86 is mounted insocket 80. Ring spring expands upon insertion of stud 30 and thepressure of spring 86 against stud 32 keeps stud 32 connected to socket80. As with the previous embodiment, stud 32 extends entirely throughsocket 80 to the base body 71 of cap 70, so that the connection of themale and female parts does not take place entirely between the twolayers of fabric 50, 60, but toward the outside of layer 60.

Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention havebeen shown and described, it is obvious that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A snap button comprising: a female portioncomprising: a cap formed from a base body having a top surface, a bottomsurface, a circumferential flange extending from said bottom surface,said flange having a plurality of interruptions therein; a socket formedby a disc having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central aperture andan annular insert disposed within the socket, wherein the cap isconnected to the socket by pressing the socket onto the cap until theflange bends around the annular insert to anchor the cap to the socket;and a male portion comprising: a post formed by a disc having aprotrusion extending from the disc; and a stud formed by a disc havingan indent corresponding to the shape of the protrusion, wherein the studis connected to the post by inserting the protrusion into the indent;wherein the male portion is connected to the female portion by snappingthe stud into the socket such that the stud extends through the socketand into the cap.
 2. The snap button according to claim 1, wherein theflange is formed of a separate piece from the base body of the cap andis anchored to the cap.
 3. The snap button according to claim 1, furthercomprising a set of teeth arranged circumferentially around an inside ofthe flange, said teeth being configured to grip the stud when the studis inserted into the female portion.
 4. The snap button according toclaim 3, wherein the teeth are made of plastic and the base body andflange are made of metal.
 5. The snap button according to claim 3,wherein the teeth are disposed on a plastic insert that is placedbetween the base body and the flange.
 6. The snap button according toclaim 1, wherein the insert in the socket has an S-shaped cross-section.7. The snap button according to claim 1, further comprising a pluralityof spikes arranged on the bottom surface of the base bodycircumferentially around an outside of the flange, said spikes beingconfigured for gripping a layer of fabric disposed between the cap andsocket when the cap and socket are connected.
 8. The snap buttonaccording to claim 3, wherein there are between two and five teeth. 9.The snap button according to claim 1, further comprising a ring springdisposed in the socket to grip the stud when the stud is inserted intothe central aperture in the socket.
 10. A snap button comprising: afemale portion comprising: a cap formed from a base body having a topsurface, a bottom surface, a circumferential flange extending from saidbottom surface, said flange having a plurality of interruptions therein,and a plastic insert placed between the base body and the flange, theplastic insert having a set of teeth arranged circumferentially aroundan inside of the flange; a socket formed by a disc having a top surface,a bottom surface, a central aperture and an annular insert disposedwithin the socket, wherein the cap is connected to the socket bypressing the socket onto the cap until the flange bends around theannular insert to anchor the cap to the socket; and a male portionhaving a stud, wherein the male portion is connected to the femaleportion by snapping the stud into the socket such that the stud extendsthrough the socket and into the cap, and wherein the teeth areconfigured to grip the stud when the stud is inserted into the femaleportion.
 11. The snap button according to claim 10, wherein the flangeis formed of a separate piece from the base body of the cap and isanchored to the cap.
 12. The snap button according to claim 10, whereinthe teeth are made of plastic and the base body and flange are made ofmetal.
 13. The snap button according to claim 10, wherein the insert inthe socket has an S-shaped cross-section.
 14. The snap button accordingto claim 10, further comprising a plurality of spikes arranged on thebottom surface of the base body circumferentially around an outside ofthe flange, said spikes being configured for gripping a layer of fabricdisposed between the cap and socket when the cap and socket areconnected.
 15. The snap button according to claim 10, wherein there arebetween two and five teeth.
 16. A snap button comprising: a femaleportion comprising: a cap formed from a base body having a top surface,a bottom surface, a circumferential flange extending from said bottomsurface, said flange having a plurality of interruptions therein, and aplurality of spikes arranged on the bottom surface of the base bodycircumferentially around an outside of the flange; a socket formed by adisc having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central aperture and anannular insert disposed within the socket, wherein the cap is connectedto the socket by pressing the socket onto the cap until the flange bendsaround the annular insert to anchor the cap to the socket; and a maleportion having a stud, wherein the male portion is connected to thefemale portion by snapping the stud into the socket such that the studextends through the socket and into the cap, wherein the spikes areconfigured for gripping a layer of fabric disposed between the cap andsocket when the cap and socket are connected.
 17. The snap buttonaccording to claim 16, wherein the flange is formed of a separate piecefrom the base body of the cap and is anchored to the cap.
 18. The snapbutton according to claim 16, further comprising a set of teeth arrangedcircumferentially around an inside of the flange, said teeth beingconfigured to grip the stud when the stud is inserted into the femaleportion.
 19. The snap button according to claim 18, wherein the teethare made of plastic and the base body and flange are made of metal. 20.The snap button according to claim 16, wherein the insert in the sockethas an S-shaped cross-section.
 21. The snap button according to claim18, wherein there are between two and five teeth.
 22. The snap buttonaccording to claim 16, further comprising a ring spring disposed in thesocket to grip the stud when the stud is inserted into the centralaperture in the socket.